Dietes Plant Named &#39;DI2&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘DI2’ is a distinctive cultivar of  Dietes bicolor  which is characterized by the combination of fine-textured foliage and low seed production. The new variety propagates successfully by division and tissue culture and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dietes bicolor.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Dietes bicolor disclosed herein has been giventhe variety denomination ‘DI2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘DI2’ is a seedling selection of unknown origin whichresulted from an open-pollination and seedling selection process carriedout by the inventor at a commercial breeding facility in Clarendon, NSW,Australia. In 2010, a number of unnamed Dietes bicolor seedlings,developed by the same inventor, were grown in close proximity to oneanother in order to encourage open cross pollination. In 2011,approximately 100 seeds were collected from these plants. The resultingseedlings were grown to maturity for further observation and, after thefirst flowering, a small number of plants were observed to produce fewerseeds by comparison with the original unnamed seedlings. One progeny inparticular was observed to exhibit narrow foliage, in combination withreduced seed head production and very few seeds. This new anddistinctive cultivar was given the name ‘DI2’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘DI2’ was first asexually propagated in early 2011by rhizome division in Clarendon, NSW, Australia and has since beenasexually reproduced by meristematic tissue culture propagation. Thedistinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘DI2’ variety have provento be stable through five generations and clones so produced maintainthe distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These characteristics, incombination, distinguish ‘DI2’ as a distinct cultivar of Dietes bicolor.

-   -   1. ‘DI2’ exhibits low seed production; and    -   2. ‘DI2’ exhibits fine-textured foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figure illustrates, as true as is reasonably possible to obtain incolor photographs of this type, an exemplary ‘DI2’ specimen on the left,with an exemplary specimen of the species, Dietes bicolor, on the right.These 12 month old plants were grown outdoors in 6 inch nurserycontainers at a commercial plant breeding facility in Clarendon, NSW,Australia. Inset in the bottom left-hand corner of the figure is anexemplary flower of ‘DI2’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Dietes bicolor ornamental plant known as ‘DI2’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are basedupon observations made in March 2016 of 24 month old ‘DI2’ plants. Theseplants were grown outdoors, in full sun, in 12 inch nursery pots filledwith soilless potting media, maintained with granular slow releasefertilizer and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest anddisease measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘DI2’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, Fourth Edition. Note that genericcolor descriptions such as ‘green’ do not exist in the R.H.S. charts andthe corresponding R.H.S. colors are quoted.

A botanical description of ‘DI2’ and comparisons with the seed parentand several similar varieties of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Grass-like herbaceous perennial with erect to            semi-erect foliage; rhizomatous plant forming a dense            tussock.        -   Height.—80 cm.        -   Width.—80 cm.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 8 to 11.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by dividing the            rhizomatous crown of the plant and also by way of            meristematic tissue culture propagation.        -   Crop time.—Time to develop a rooted cutting is approximately            8 weeks, from division. An average crop time is            approximately 8 to 10 months to produce a mature and            marketable one gallon nursery container, beginning with a            rooted cutting.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Tolerates Mediterranean to            subtropical climates; full sun to partial shade; poor to            fertile soils; drought tolerant once established.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—No known pest            or disease problems.-   Roots: Rhizomes with fine, fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Acaulescent, rhizomatous plant with shoots            emerging upright at close to 90 degrees from the soil            surface.        -   Shoots.—Quantity — Approximately ten. Strength — Very            Strong. Dimensions, 5 days after emerging — 30 to 45 mm tall            and 17 mm in diameter. Cross-section — Round to slightly            flattened. Apex — Acute. Color — A combination of            yellow-green, RHS 147B, and orange-white 159D. Texture and            pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Shape.—Ensiform.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Equitant.        -   Attachment.—Sheathed.        -   Apex.—Subulate.        -   Base.—Sheathed attachment to the culm.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—10.5 mm wide and 800 mm long, on            average. The leaf thickness is 1.3 mm, on average.        -   Juvenile foliage color, adaxial & abaxial surfaces.—Green,            RHS 138C.        -   Mature foliage color, adaxial & abaxial surfaces.—Green, RHS            137B.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Vein color, adaxial surfaces.—Green, RHS 137C.        -   Vein color, abaxial surfaces.—Yellow-green, RHS 144B.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Smooth and densely pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Cymose.        -   Natural flowering season.—Heaviest blooming is observed in            summer, with sporadic blooms in spring and fall.        -   Overall dimensions.—Up to 800 mm long and 200 mm wide.        -   Quantity.—Inflorescences may potentially arise from every            shoot.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Up to 200 to 300 mm long and 4 mm in            diameter. Attitude — Erect to approximately 30 degrees from            erect. Strength — Very strong. Texture — Smooth. Color —            Green, RHS 138A.-   Bud:    -   -   Dimensions.—Approximately 35 mm long and 6 mm wide.        -   Bud shape.—Narrow, ovoid.        -   Bud color.—A combination of yellow-green, RHS 147A, and            yellow, RHS 7D.        -   Rate of bud opening.—Slow.        -   Bract.—Buds are enclosed in a single lanceolate bract; color            is green, RHS 138A; texture is smooth; glabrous.-   Flower:    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 to 8 flowers per inflorescence.        -   Shape.—Shallow cup.        -   Persistence.—Non-persistent.        -   Lastingness.—One to two days.        -   Aspect.—Upward and outward.        -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.        -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 20 to 40 mm long and 4 mm in            diameter. Attitude — Erect to semi-erect. Strength — Very            strong. Texture — Smooth. Color — Green, RHS 138A.        -   Perianth.—General description — Perianth is comprised of six            tepals; 3 inner tepals and 3 larger outer tepals. Dimensions            — Approximately 65 mm in diameter and 35 mm deep, from the            base of the receptacle. Tepals — Quantity — Three inner            tepals and three larger outer tepals. Inner tepals —            Dimensions — 28 mm long and 13 mm wide. Shape — Elliptical.            Apex — Obtuse. Base — Truncate. Tepal reflex — Slightly            incurved to slightly reflexed. Margin — Entire; occasionally            emarginate. Not undulated. Texture and pubescence — Smooth            and glabrous. Color when fully opened, upper surface —            Yellow, RHS 7D. Color when fully opened, lower surface —            Yellow, RHS 7D.        -   Outer tepals.—Dimensions — 30 mm long and 23 mm wide. Shape            — Trilobate; lobes are broadly ovate. Apex — Obtuse to            emarginate. Base — Truncate. Tepal reflex — Slightly            incurved to slightly reflexed. Margin — Entire; slightly            undulated. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.            Color when fully opened, upper surface — Yellow, RHS 7D,            with nectar guides consisting of an irregular semi-circular            blotch of approximately 6 mm long and 4.5 mm wide near the            base of each tepal, colored brown RHS 200B and bordered with            greyed-orange, RHS 173B, and also several rows of fine dots            positioned between the proximal end of the tepal and the            irregular blotches. Dots are approximately 0.25 mm in            diameter and colored greyed-orange 173B. Color when fully            opened, lower surface: Yellow, RHS 7D, with nectar guides            consisting of an irregular semi-circular blotch of            approximately 6 mm long and 4.5 mm wide near the base of            each tepal, colored brown RHS 200B and bordered with            greyed-orange, RHS 173B, and also several rows of fine dots            positioned between the proximal end of the tepal and the            irregular blotches. Dots are approximately 0.25 mm in            diameter and colored greyed-orange 173B.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Three. Filament — Approximately 6 to 7            mm long and 0.25 in diameter; color is yellow, RHS 7D.            Anther — Two-lobed; oblong to linear; basifixed;            approximately 4.5 mm long and 1 mm in diameter; color is            yellow, RHS 7D. Pollen — Scarce; color is closest to yellow,            RHS 7D.        -   Pistil.—Petaloid pistil; style is comprised of 3 petal-like            branches of approximately 16 mm long and 8 wide, with            bifurcate to emarginate apices; margins are entire; color is            yellow, RHS 7D. Stigma is undetected. Ovary is inferior;            shape is narrow linear; 15 mm long and 3 mm in diameter.-   Seed:    -   -   Quantity.—Very few seeds produced.        -   Shape.—Irregular; ovoid.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 3 mm by 3 mm.        -   Color.—Pale yellow to cream, closest to yellow-white RHS            158B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Comparisons with the parent plants: The actual antecedents are    unknown, so a parental comparison is not possible.-   Comparisons with the most similar variety of common knowledge:    Plants of the new cultivar ‘DI2’ may be distinguished from the    commercial variety, Dietes bicolor ‘Nola Alba’ (U.S. Pat. No.    21,460), by the following combination of characteristics:    -   1. ‘DI2’ exhibits narrow foliage, whereas ‘Nola Alba’ exhibits        wide foliage.    -   2. ‘DI2’ exhibits yellow flowers, whereas ‘Nola Alba’ exhibits        white flowers.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dietesbicolor named ‘DI2’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.